Love - Forever Changes [Deluxe Edition] (CD)

All Music Guide

It wasn't a hit, but Forever Changes continues to regularly appear on critics' lists of the top ten rock albums of all time, and it had an enormously farreaching and durable influence that went way beyond chart listings. The best fusion of folkrock and psychedelia, it features Arthur Lee's trembling vocals, beautiful melodies, haunting orchestral arrangements, and inscrutable but poetic lyrics, all of which sound nearly as fresh and intriguing upon repeated plays. One of rock's most organic, flowing masterpieces, every song has a lingering, shimmering beauty, including the two penned by the band's other talented songwriter/guitarist/singer, Bryan MacLean. [The 2001 expanded reissue on Rhino adds seven bonus tracks: the 1968 single "Your Mind and We Belong Together"/"Laughing Stock," the genuine Forever Changes outtake "Wonder People (I Do Wonder)," the demo "Hummingbirds" (essentially an instrumental version of "The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This"), and alternate mixes of ..."Alone Again Or" and "You Set the Scene." These really aren't too essential, the best of the lot being "Wonder People (I Do Wonder)," a lighthearted number that's somewhat similar to "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale" (which did end up on Forever Changes). The alternate mix of "You Set the Scene" has a few interesting additional vocal interjections at the end, but the different mix of "Alone Again Or" is diminished by awkward edits of the instrumental passages. The 24page booklet of historical liner notes is a good addition, though.] - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less